IMCDA race report
IMCDA RACE REPORT
Jan and I arrived in CDA Thursday and got to our rental house about 3:pm. I put the bikes together, went grocery shopping and got settled. We were sharing the house with two more IM athletes, Becky, and Kim.
Friday morning was a recon swim. Everyone was talking about how cold the water was, and when I got in, yes it was! I guess it was about 58 deg. F. The most uncomfortable part of me was my hands. After they ahhhh, got used to the water, the rest was fine. I was in the water for about 30 minutes and didn't think it was bad at all. After the swim, jan and I drove out to ride the big climb on 95. No big Issue there either. I felt ready, I felt good. This would be my third Ironman. I DNF'ED the run at IMAZ last year, I was determined to finish this one.
Race morning I got up at 4:00. Had a peanut butter and honey bagel and a banana. I drank Gatorade the day and night before, so I was feeling topped up fuel wise. We got to transition a little after 5. I lubed up he chains of Jan's and Becky's bikes, then did mine. Checked tires, etc and was ready to go. I started walking to SN drop and noticed I didn't have my wetsuit!!! Oh EFFFFF! I went back to Jan's bike and Becky's to see if I left it there, no! I checked by my bike, no wetsuit. Crap, I must have left it at the house. There was one hour to the start. I ran to the car and drove to the house, which was only I mile from the race. Looked in the bedroom, no wetsuit! Oh I'm fooyed for sure. Drove back to the race. I didn't get the awesome parking spot I had, but did find another after a short search. It's going to be a cold swim. Ok I'll the The EN hero! Ha ha. Soooo I walking past the T1 bags, thought I'd check one last time and YESSSSSS there was my wetsuit. thank you God! Yea!!!! Put it on, begged some Bodyglide and I was ready to do this! I lined up almost a the beach wall, about in line with the post. The canon fired and we were off. I was figuring a 1:15 ish swim. Right. The swim was chaos, lots of contact and thrashing. I couldn't find a clear spot and couldn't put ten strokes together. Then you have the person who decides to breast stroke in the middle of it all. Breast stroke should be against the rules. Breast strokers, start in the back and wait five minutes until your start cannon fires! Anyway, I go with the flow, getting strokes where I could, thinking about the awesome run I'm gonna have later on. First lap done onto the second. Maybe a little better until the water got really rough. Where did this come from? Oh well, just get it done and remember that awesome run. About 500m from the finish I was starting to feel cold and felt my feet shivering. The water felt colder the closer to the shore I got. Finished, 1:30 showing on the clock. Whatever. Got my wet suit stripped and started just shaking from the cold. Went into the warming tent, wrapped in a blanket and hovered over the heater and shook and shivered. After I got that under control, I got my T1 bag, went back to the warming tent. I put on leg warmers, jacket, scull cap, and long gloves. I knew it was going to take a while to warm up on the bike, because I was going to take it really easy to set up that awesome run. Turns out T1 transition was about 35 minutes, I found out later.
BIKE. Rode stupid easy for 25 miles. Easy watts on the hills, target power or less on the flats. No loading up the legs. After the turnaround I was surprised at how much climbing we did, plus it was into a headwind. The return was fast and fun. Nutrition was going well, and in the end I didn't take in as much as I had planned, but it all worked out. Riding through town was fun. Out on 95 for the second loop, same strategy: manage power, manage nutrition, control what you can at the moment, the race hasn't started yet. Set up for that awesome run. Still have that headwind, good! The return will be fast again-it was!
A little ways out from T2, I pulled my feet out of my shoes and spun in to the dismount. I was planning a flying dismount right into a 7:30 pace to the changing tent, but at the last second decided to stop first and just hand the bike off-good decision! Definitely a longer ride than I thought it was going to be, but hopefully I was set up for an awesome run.
RUN
Changed socks, put on my shoes and fuel belt. Got to sunscreen and realized I still had my leg warmers on. Went back to the tent and took them off. Off to the awesome run!
It was hard to start the run uphill. Small steps, start and get into it, be patient, find your legs, the race hasn't started yet. No pace showing the Polar, I think the foot pod battery probably died. Oh well, I can use the stop watch. My feet feel good too, no blisters to start the run with. The previous IM runs we're started with blisters.
My running isn't pretty or fast, but I was running. I picked off the miles, walking 30 steps after each one and getting through the aid stations quickly. After a few miles, I took just the steps through the aids. Coke, potato chips, a gel here and there, and water in my belt fueled the run. I ran the big hill. I hit the turn around in 2:45, I still felt ok. Looking like a 5:30 run, I'd take that. It was also wonderful to see fellow EN runners, Lisa and Robin, on the course and Becky H. and Kim, our house mates.
Mile 17, still running. Haven't taken an unplanned break yet. I did have to stop and put Vaseline on a developing blister, but other than that, still doing ok. I'm really surprised at a lot of really fit looking people walking.
Mile 20. Yeah it's hard, but I'm still in the game physically and mentally. The suck hasn't come. I start to pick it up a bit. 3 miles out, I'm going. No aid stations, no walking, no slowing down. Commit, RUN, get it done. Light, quick, fast turnover, form, loose...last 5k. Flying down Sherman. Fantastic crowds and cheering. Maybe they knew a part of the elation I was feeling.
"Kurt Andersen, you are an Ironman!"
15:01:54
Recap:
Worst swim conditons I've ever had, but I did it. Maybe I'll have to look into a neoprene cap and booties for heat management in colder waters. The 63 deg. water temp. In Az. wasnt a problem, but I figure I lost about 30 minutes this time in the warming tent.
Bike: overall went well, took longer than expected. Felt like I paced well. Nutrition went ok. Adapted to how I was feeling. This hilly course favors a higher power/weight ratio than I have. I wanted to come into this race about ten pounds lighter and just lost the commitment to get there. Of course working on FTP will be in the plan also. I don't know how much more is there, so maybe finding what I.F. I can ride at and still run is something to work on.
RUN: less weight will help for sure. I want to look into the biomechanics of my running, maybe try Newtons. Jan and I have a Ragnar coming up and a marathon later in the year, so running will be the focus for a while.
I also want to develop a more holistic training plan than just S,B,R. I think there are gains to be made in strength, flexibility, core function, etc.
Overall it was a fantastic day and race. Jan and I are going to try for IMLP and another late season.
Now off to find the car. That is a whole other story!
Comments
I meant to say next season, IMLP and maybe IMAZ or Florida.
Congrats on getting it done and your consistent progress during the day.
Despite the minor issues such as forgetting wetsuit.
So you saw my wife Lisa Watson out there? I didn't see her on the run unfortunately.
Did you see me Robin or female Robin?
I really liked the way you just dealt with the issues that arose and didn't let them rattle you - eg spent the time warming up in T1 because you felt it was necessary
Kurt ('n Jan) - you guys are the greatest. I am so impressed how you do things together as a team, and fill in the blanks for each other. It makes the journey you are on - from power lifter to endurance athlete - so much more manageable. I look forward to watching you guys evolve. "See you in Spetember"!
Yes, saw Lisa on the bike after turn around two, then towards the first 6 mile turn around. She caught me a little after the turn for the second loop. Looked like she was running very well. What a nice person!
Congrats on your strong finish and on keeping in your game plan all day. Especially after the wetsuit panic and cold swim, that would derail a lot of people but you kept mentally tough. Definitely get a neoprene cap, they help a lot. This swim was very tough between wind, waves, and cold. Nice job!
Great job staying calm re: wetsuit issue!
Good call on warming tent! Wish I'd been that smart! Very good job.